The report will be brief today because it was straight-up cold out at Yulman Stadium this morning, unlike any April New Orleans weather I have experienced in the past.
Like most of the practices this spring, the defense was in control. Justin McMillan got frustrated a couple of times last week when the offense was struggling, and although he stayed calm today, there were not many big plays. He needs to continue working on his accuracy. In one stretch of 11-on-11 work, he threw slightly behind Jaetavian Toles on a crossing route and Toles could not hold on in traffic. If the ball had led him a little more, he likely would have made the grab. McMillan then misfired to running back Amare Jones coming across the middle. Both plays were close and both could have been successful with better throws.
Most of Keon Howard's completions were in the flat and on short sideline routes. He did not have the clear misfires that have been common in other practices. The quarterbacks do not have much time to thrown because the defensive line is beating the offensive line consistently, which is no surprise considering the talent up front and the adjustment to a new scheme on offense.
Corey Dauphine looked as fast as ever today. He took one run to the end zone on a sweep, and while I don't put much stock in those results when they are not tackling, his acceleration and speed continue to excite. He's a natural runner. The difference between him, and say, Sherman Badie from the past, is significant. They both had a lot of speed, but Badie's was straight line. Dauphine is quick everywhere.
It was Willie Fritz's birthday today, so the players sang "Happy Birthday" to him at the end of practice. After joking that he was 37 last week, he changed it to 21 today. He's actually 59, one year away from a big landmark. Fritz talked about what he expects to be able to do in the spring game today, and don't look for long appearances from the starters. He said the experienced guys on both sides of the ball would play one or two series before sitting out, and depth issues due to health might limit the game to one half of real football.
How do you feel about your backup quarterbacks?
"I feel good. Keon Howard has a lot of experience. He started I believe eight games at Southern Miss a couple of years ago. He's really a student of the game. He comes in every day extra and gobbles up everything he can as far as what we're doing offensively, and Christian Daniels has done some good things, too, so we feel good about all three of those guys. It's hard to get three quarterbacks reps. Mostly it's been Justin and Keon getting reps, but when Christian's been in there, he's done a nice job."
So moving forward, quarterback will be a real emphasis for the class of 2020?
"We are going to definitely sign one quarterback and possibly two. We just have to see where we're at, but one for sure."
How important is to bring in a guy with experience like a grad transfer?
"I'd rather not. Keon will have another year. Christian will have another three. You never know how things this day and age in college football will play out, but we definitely are on the hunt for a high school quarterback."
Will what you're doing offensively under Will Hall help in that pursuit?
"I think so. Our passing attack, when we show the clips, it's the Atlanta Falcons, the 49ers, the Patriots. Those are the concepts we're using, and also we are using the quarterback run element that's predominant in college football. It should help us. The main thing is we want an offense that can help us score points and win, but also if a guy envisions himself having the opportunity to play after that, we certainly can groom him to do that."
How are you going to handle the spring game?
"Number one, we've got to see where we are health wise. We're OK right now, but we have a few guys we have to get healed up a little bit. What I'd like to do is go a half of real football and really have the guys that need the reps that we haven't seen as much play most of it. We'll do a little bit of kicking game, but I'd like to play a half of football."
So the experienced guys will be on the shelf?
"Yeah, they'll play a little bit. They'll probably do some kicking game and a series maybe. Patrick Johnson and a guy like Jeffery Johnson (who were waiting to be interviewed), I've seen what they can do for 13 games and some of those guys more than that, but there are some other guys, such as in the defensive line, a guy like Jamiran James from De La Salle, I'd like to see what he can do and for him to get a lot of live reps, and Alfred Thomas, Carlos Hatcher at that joker position behind Patrick Johnson, see what he can do. That's good game experience for those guys."
Will you have your regular guys play more on offense in the spring game?
"No, the same thing. Probably the offensive line will go two series and the rest of the offensive line--Stephen Lewerenz and Nik Hogan, a bunch of those guys, we've got to see what they can do on the offensive line. Our two tight ends played some for us last year but I would like to see them in a more highlighted role in the spring game. That's our goal, is to try to play a half of football."
How are those young offensive linemen coming along?
"They are doing a good job. That's probably the most difficult position to come right in and play is the offensive line. Corey Dublin, that's really unique for a guy to come in and start his first game as a true freshman. It was the first time it happened in many years here. We've got three offensive linemen coming in as well, so that will help us with our depth."
Knowing that you have a new offense, will you be as vanilla as possible so the people who shouldn't be watching don't get to see anything?
"No, we'll run most of our offense. I'm trying to get (Will Hall) and he's doing it most every practice, get a reverse or two in there and some other gadget plays. Those are some things we need to see (defensively). We do a good job playing with effort, but misdirection sometimes can get you. That helps our defense out."
How is Corey Dublin doing at guard?
"He's done a good job. He jumped right back into it. That's maybe a little bit more of his natural position. Certainly he can go back in there at center. He started 13 games there last year, so that wouldn't be a big stretch for him to go back there at center."
Like most of the practices this spring, the defense was in control. Justin McMillan got frustrated a couple of times last week when the offense was struggling, and although he stayed calm today, there were not many big plays. He needs to continue working on his accuracy. In one stretch of 11-on-11 work, he threw slightly behind Jaetavian Toles on a crossing route and Toles could not hold on in traffic. If the ball had led him a little more, he likely would have made the grab. McMillan then misfired to running back Amare Jones coming across the middle. Both plays were close and both could have been successful with better throws.
Most of Keon Howard's completions were in the flat and on short sideline routes. He did not have the clear misfires that have been common in other practices. The quarterbacks do not have much time to thrown because the defensive line is beating the offensive line consistently, which is no surprise considering the talent up front and the adjustment to a new scheme on offense.
Corey Dauphine looked as fast as ever today. He took one run to the end zone on a sweep, and while I don't put much stock in those results when they are not tackling, his acceleration and speed continue to excite. He's a natural runner. The difference between him, and say, Sherman Badie from the past, is significant. They both had a lot of speed, but Badie's was straight line. Dauphine is quick everywhere.
It was Willie Fritz's birthday today, so the players sang "Happy Birthday" to him at the end of practice. After joking that he was 37 last week, he changed it to 21 today. He's actually 59, one year away from a big landmark. Fritz talked about what he expects to be able to do in the spring game today, and don't look for long appearances from the starters. He said the experienced guys on both sides of the ball would play one or two series before sitting out, and depth issues due to health might limit the game to one half of real football.
How do you feel about your backup quarterbacks?
"I feel good. Keon Howard has a lot of experience. He started I believe eight games at Southern Miss a couple of years ago. He's really a student of the game. He comes in every day extra and gobbles up everything he can as far as what we're doing offensively, and Christian Daniels has done some good things, too, so we feel good about all three of those guys. It's hard to get three quarterbacks reps. Mostly it's been Justin and Keon getting reps, but when Christian's been in there, he's done a nice job."
So moving forward, quarterback will be a real emphasis for the class of 2020?
"We are going to definitely sign one quarterback and possibly two. We just have to see where we're at, but one for sure."
How important is to bring in a guy with experience like a grad transfer?
"I'd rather not. Keon will have another year. Christian will have another three. You never know how things this day and age in college football will play out, but we definitely are on the hunt for a high school quarterback."
Will what you're doing offensively under Will Hall help in that pursuit?
"I think so. Our passing attack, when we show the clips, it's the Atlanta Falcons, the 49ers, the Patriots. Those are the concepts we're using, and also we are using the quarterback run element that's predominant in college football. It should help us. The main thing is we want an offense that can help us score points and win, but also if a guy envisions himself having the opportunity to play after that, we certainly can groom him to do that."
How are you going to handle the spring game?
"Number one, we've got to see where we are health wise. We're OK right now, but we have a few guys we have to get healed up a little bit. What I'd like to do is go a half of real football and really have the guys that need the reps that we haven't seen as much play most of it. We'll do a little bit of kicking game, but I'd like to play a half of football."
So the experienced guys will be on the shelf?
"Yeah, they'll play a little bit. They'll probably do some kicking game and a series maybe. Patrick Johnson and a guy like Jeffery Johnson (who were waiting to be interviewed), I've seen what they can do for 13 games and some of those guys more than that, but there are some other guys, such as in the defensive line, a guy like Jamiran James from De La Salle, I'd like to see what he can do and for him to get a lot of live reps, and Alfred Thomas, Carlos Hatcher at that joker position behind Patrick Johnson, see what he can do. That's good game experience for those guys."
Will you have your regular guys play more on offense in the spring game?
"No, the same thing. Probably the offensive line will go two series and the rest of the offensive line--Stephen Lewerenz and Nik Hogan, a bunch of those guys, we've got to see what they can do on the offensive line. Our two tight ends played some for us last year but I would like to see them in a more highlighted role in the spring game. That's our goal, is to try to play a half of football."
How are those young offensive linemen coming along?
"They are doing a good job. That's probably the most difficult position to come right in and play is the offensive line. Corey Dublin, that's really unique for a guy to come in and start his first game as a true freshman. It was the first time it happened in many years here. We've got three offensive linemen coming in as well, so that will help us with our depth."
Knowing that you have a new offense, will you be as vanilla as possible so the people who shouldn't be watching don't get to see anything?
"No, we'll run most of our offense. I'm trying to get (Will Hall) and he's doing it most every practice, get a reverse or two in there and some other gadget plays. Those are some things we need to see (defensively). We do a good job playing with effort, but misdirection sometimes can get you. That helps our defense out."
How is Corey Dublin doing at guard?
"He's done a good job. He jumped right back into it. That's maybe a little bit more of his natural position. Certainly he can go back in there at center. He started 13 games there last year, so that wouldn't be a big stretch for him to go back there at center."